California Must Match Climate Ambition with Investments in Climate Action in the Final State Budget Agreement

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — “With President Trump taking us backwards on climate, California’s leadership has never been more important. The work ahead starts by pairing our climate ambition with a proportionate level of investment, so it’s encouraging to see the Legislature’s budget protect more of the state’s dedicated climate funding from being used to close the deficit. Core government functions like CalFIRE should not cannibalize funding for climate action. As climate impacts intensify, threats to our health, lives, and jobs squeeze the most vulnerable residents in our state — widening inequalities and worsening California’s affordability crisis. We encourage additional investment in clean transportation, affordability programs, and the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program.

“Extending and strengthening California’s landmark cap-and-trade program this year remains essential to create a framework for climate action while also increasing funding to invest in proven solutions. Uncertainty in the emissions market is substantially costing the state critical resources. When compared to last year, the most recent auction generated approximately half the revenue. We look forward to working with state leaders on an ambitious program to accelerate reductions in pollution contributing to climate change, increase climate investments in affordability and equity, and ensure the state is on track to build a clean energy economy by 2045 and beyond.”

— Katelyn Roedner Sutter, California State Director, Environmental Defense Fund